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Friday, 11 April 2014

I live with my husband, two children, three dogs, and three cats in a small town in Missouri. I have a teenage daughter and a seven-year-old son. Both kids are very active in school activities and sports, so they keep me very busy.

2) What makes you happiest?

I love spending time with my family. We make an effort to do as many family activities together as possible. During warm weather, our favorite thing to do is walk through nature. My happiest time is when I am outside on a scenic trail with my family.

3) What’s your greatest character strength?

I am very good at seeing both sides to situations. Because of this trait, I rarely get extremely angry. I can usually step back and look at things from the other person’s point of view and gain an understanding of why they did what they did. Usually, I find that the person’s intentions weren’t bad, it was just a matter of a communication failure.

4) What’s your weakest character trait?

Impatience. I tend to become very impatient if things are done according to my time-table. It is something that I have to work on daily.

5) Why do you write?

I love getting lost in a story. I can be writing and look up and realize that hours have passed. While I’m writing, I am seeing what is happening in my mind. I often find myself getting so wrapped up in the story that I cry or laugh out loud. I figure if I can make myself cry writing the scene, then I’ve done a pretty good job with it.

6) Have you always enjoyed writing?

Yes. I started writing poetry and short stories at a very early age. I used to challenge myself by picking a random object, like a tree, and then writing a poem or a short story about that object. I feel very blessed that I have been able to become a full-time writer.

7) What writing are you most proud of?

My mother used to tell me stories about the dog she had as a child. The dog’s name was Lady, and she served as a messenger dog during WWII. She was injured during the war and as a result, became gun shy. My mother was about six years old when a soldier gave Lady to my Grandfather. She was an Irish Setter. When he found out she was gun shy, he gave her to my mom. My mom is in her sixties and still remembers Lady as one of her dearest friends. As a gift to my mother, I wroteHeart of a Hero,which is based on Lady.

From the author of “Dogs Aren’t Men” comes “To Love a Cat”, a contemporary romance novel.

Catherine “Cat” James’ life is simple and orderly, and she likes it that way. She loves her job as an accountant. Working with numbers is safe and routine, no surprises. Her childhood had been very abusive and unstable. She vowed not to live that way as an adult. She also made a promise to herself to become a foster parent. She wished someone had been there for her as a teenager, to let her know she wasn’t alone.

Cat agrees to foster Ethan Summers, a troubled teenage boy whose childhood closely resembles her own. Suddenly, her nice and orderly life is filled with chaos and uncertainty. Things really start to spin out of control when circumstances bring police detective Mitch Holt into the picture. He’s handsome, charming, and definitely not what Cat needs right now, or so she thinks.